Cleveland Browns: Garrett Bradbury a good option in Round 2
By Joel W. Cade
Run Blocking
Let’s be clear, the most important things about playing center are 1) snapping the ball consistently and 2) setting protections and run schemes. Bradbury was very good at snapping the ball consistently.
Of the film I watched, I did not see him setting protections or run schemes. He will have to learn these skills at the NFL level. This is normal coming out of a spread style offense like the one at N.C. State. He plays intelligently which means that intelligence should translate into calling protections and schemes. He checks the boxes for what is necessary to be a successful NFL center.
Also, Bradbury has the most important element of being an offensive lineman. He has a nasty streak to finish blocks. He has the ability to get on a defender and stick. He has a high motor to go along with his mean streak. Thus he plays fast and aggressive. He would quickly fit in with the Dawg Pound with his style.
His run blocking skills are a mixed bag. One the one hand, his second level blocking is excellent. But he struggles with lateral movement.
Bradbury is a tailor-made center for a zone run blocking scheme. Athleticism is his key attribute. He originally went to N.C. State as a tight end. He was converted to the offensive line after his freshman year. Since the transition, he has shown the athleticism necessary to block at the second level and pull as a center. He excels at getting to the second level taking proper angles, beating linebackers to the spot and staying on the blocks. This skill alone is worth a late first round pick.
But nobody is perfect, Bradbury struggles at times in the zone scheme. He lacks a quick first step off the ball. This causes him to struggle against quick defensive tackles shooting the A gap. It also causes him to get split on double teams. To paraphrase former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, Bradbury struggles to get his testicles into the gap.
Run blocking is only half the battle. In the new NFL, it is pass blocking that is key.